Float marker



y 6, 1952 J. E. LAWSON 2,595,531

FLOAT MARKER Filed April 12, 1951 INVENTOR.

0 John E Lawson I] ORNEY Patented May 6, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLOAT MARKER John E. Lawson, St. Paul, Minn.

Application April 12, 1951, Serial No. 220,668

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improvement in float marker and deals particularly with a device useful in locating submerged articles.

Many articles are lost by dropping them into lakes or rivers. For example, fishing equipment, outboard motors, and other such objects are often lost because it is extremely difficult to locate the exact spot where they were dropped. The present device is useful in locating articles of this type after they are submerged.

An object of the present invention lies in the provision of a float or marker which is made in two separable pieces. One of the pieces is designed for attachment to the article which might be lost. The other part comprises a separable part which is in the form of a spool so designed as to accommodate. a cord or line wound thereabout. The two parts of the float normally are engaged together. However, upon separation, the spool portion of the device is permitted to rise to the surface to provide a marker showing the location of the submerged article.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a, marker which is formed in two parts, both of which are preferably lighter than the water they displace when submerged. Thus as the article to which the marker is attached is submerged both parts of the marker tend to rise toward the surface of the water. The portion of the marker which is connected to the submerged article is thus beneath the removable portion of the marker. As a result when the two parts of the marker separate the detachable portion is directed upwardly toward the surface of the water and will not become fouled upon parts of the article to which the marker is attached.

An added feature of the present invention lies in the manner in which the parts are connected together. One part of the article is equipped with a laterally extending pin or blade which projects somewhat beyond the periphery of the other portion of the marker. A loop is provided on the other part of the marker engage'able over the end of the laterally extending pin or blade. A pair of spaced prongs or blades straddle the opposite end of the pin or blade. Means are provided between the spaced prongs and. the pin for holding the two parts of the marker assembled.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a marker which may use a strip of paper or similar material as the key holding the two parts of the marker assembled. This paperboard is sufliciently heavy to prevent the two parts of the marker from separating when the paperboard is dry. However, when the paperboard is submerged in water, the water quickly softens the fibrous structure of the paperboard and permits it to bend. When the paperboard strip is bent sufficiently the two parts of the marker are free to become disassembled. One of the advantages of the use of paperboard lies in the fact that a match book cover, a stiff maga- Zine cover, or other piece of cardboard which is readily available may be used as the key and the marker does not require the use of tablets of soluble material or other such means which are often difficult and costly to obtain.

An added feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a spring which tends to urge the two parts of the marker apart. Thus when the key holding the two parts of the marker together bends sufficiently the spring pivots the two parts sufficiently to disengage the same.

An added feature of the present invention resides in its simplicity and low cost of construction. The parts of the marker may be turned out on a lathe or similar machine at relatively low cost and the remaining parts necessary to complete the s ructure are inexpensive and easy to assemble. As a result the device may be made at sufficiently low cost to permit it to be readily accessible to everyone.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 discloses in perspective the manner in which the marker is attached to an object which might become submerged.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the marker showing the parts thereof in assembled or connected position.

Figure 3 is an exploded view showing the two parts of the marker in separated position.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the releasable portion of the marker detached from the other part thereof.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the fixed portion of the marker.

Figure 6 is a view showing a series of paperboard keys used for holding the two parts of the marker assembled.

The marker is indicated in general by the letter A and is shown connected to the handle portion iii of an outboard motor indicated in general by the letter B, butnot illustrated completely in the drawings. In the position illustrated in Figure 1, the marker is suspended from the handle ID by means of a cord II which is connected to the fixed portion of the marker by a fastener I2.

Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings show a slightly different arrangement wherein the anchoring cord II extends through a laterally extending hole I3 in the fixed portion of the marker. The marker A is composed of two major parts indicated in general by the numerals I4 and I5. The portion I4 comprises the fixed portion of the marker while the portion I5 comprises the detachable portion thereof. The two parts are normally connected together as illustrated in Figure l of the drawings and remain connected at all times unless the marker is submerged in water.

The upper portion I4 of the marker comprises a cylindrical or frusto-conical body having an axial recess I6 therein extending from the surface ll of the marker portion inwardly toward the opposite end thereof. The recess I6 is designed to accommodate a spring I8 which is frictionally engaged in the aperture and which normally is connected thereto well enough so as to remain in place when the two parts of the device are separated. The aperture I3 extends transversely through the body portion I4 at a point spaced from the end I9 opposite the apertured end and a second hole is formed through the body which is shown at right angles to the hole I3. The hole 20 is designed to accommodate one end of a loop or line 2| designed to connect the two portions of the marker. The line 2| is looped through the aperture 20 and is anchored or tied in a loop so as to firmly connect the line to the marker portion I4.

A screw eye or staple 22 extends into the surface I! of the marker portion I4 near the periphery thereof. A pair of spaced prongs 23 are anchored in the surface I! opposite the staple 22. The prongs 23 extend outwardly at right angles to the surface I1 and then are bent at 24 to provide prong ends 25. These prong ends 25 slope slightly away from the surface I! but extend generally parallel thereto for a purpose which will be later described in detail.

The portion I5 of the marker includes ends 23 and 21 which are of substantially equal diameter and a grooved portion 29 between these ends. The groove portion 29 is designed to form the spool for accommodating the line 2|. The line 2| is wound about the groove portion of the marker member I5 so that the desired amount of line is provided. The end of the line 2I encircling the marker portion I5 is tied tightly in place so as to firmly anchor the line to the marker portion I5. A pin 30 is connected to the surface 3I of the marker portion I5 by spaced staples 32 or by other suitable means. The pin 30 is kinked as indicated at 33 to prevent longitudinal or axial movement thereof. The pin 30 is provided with one end 34 which extends beyond the periphery of the end 21 of the marker portion I5 for a purpose which will be presently described. The other end of the pin 30 overlies a notch or recess 35 in the end 3I of the marker portion I5. The notch or recess 35 is of sufficient size to accommodate the prongs 23 in the assembled position of the marker.

In assembling the two parts of the marker A, the end 34 of the pin 30 is inserted through the loop or staple 22 on the marker portion I4. The spring I! bears against the upper surface 3| of the marker portion I4 during this operation a face of the water.

so that the two parts I4 and I5 are angularly related. The two parts are then swung into substantial alignment using the staple 22 and the pin end 34 as a fulcrum. As the two parts of the marker are swung together, the prongs 23 enter the notch or recess 35 on opposite sides of the pin 30.

When the parts are in this position, a short strip 36 of paperboard is inserted between the pin 30 and the prongs 23. The paperboard strip 36 is of sufiicient rigidity to remain substantially flat during normal conditions. However, when the strip of paperboard 36 becomes saturated with moisture the fibrous structure weakens sufficiently to permit this strip to bend into U-shaped form and to allow the spring I8 to swing the two parts of the marker apart.

It will be seen that the paperboard strip 36 acts as a key to hold the two parts of the marker assembled. The key is provided in one side only of the structure, the other or opposite sides of the two parts being hlngedly connected by the detachable engagement between the pin end 34 and the loop or staple 22. Thus when the marker is immersed for a short period of time in water, the key bends and the two marker parts separate, allowing the releasable part I5 to float to the surface of the water. This action unwinds the line 2I from the marker portion I5.

It will be noted that if the marker A is connected to an object which might be immersed in the usual manner as indicated in Figure l, the marker inverts as soon as the article drops into the water and extends upwardly toward the sur- This action tends to elevate both portions of the marker above adjacent portions of the article to which the marker is connected. This action also causes the end [1 of the marker portion I4 to be directed upwardly so that when the key 36 becomes saturated the spring I8 urges the detachable portion I5 upwardly toward the surface of the water. This spool portion I5 slowly rotates as it floats to the surface of the water, unwinding the line 2I as it rotates.

In Figure 6 of the drawings I disclose a series of strips 36 connected along perforated lines 31 so that a series of strips or keys may be connected together for detachment and use as desired. However, the strips 36 are merely pieces of paperboard possessing suflicient rigidity to hold the two parts from separation and keys 36 may be formed from match book covers or any other suitable source of rigid paperboard.

The device has been found extremely useful in the recovery of lost objects and may also be used for marking the position of a person unable to swim. The saturation of the paper may be regulated by the type of paper employed and if the proper paper is used, the two parts of the marker may separate in an extremely short period of time when placed in actual contact with water. If water should be accidentally splashed onto the key, it is possible that the key will become sufficientlywet to permit the releasing of the two parts, but this causes little difficulty other than the problem of rewinding the line upon the detachable portion I5 and reconnecting the two parts of the marker through the use of another key.

The fastener I2 may comprise a staple or screw eye, or may comprise a coiled loop 39 connected to a shank 40 havin a looped inner end. After insertion of the shank, the looped inner end is bent laterally to receive a fastening nail M or other fastening means to anchor the shankin place.

This application is a continuation in part of my previously filed application Serial No. 158,681 filed April 28, 1950, now abandoned.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my float marker, and While I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that this is only illustrative thereof and that obvious changes may be made Within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A marker for locating buoyant articles including two buoyant members, means connecting one of said members to an article, a line connecting the buoyant members, a detachable hinge connection between the members, a resilient member urging the members apart, and a key normally preventing hinging action between the members, said key being made of relatively stifi material which decreases in stiffness when submerged in water.

2. The structure described in claim 1 in which the key is formed of paperboard.

3. The structure described in claim 1 and in which one of the members is provided with a pair of projecting prongs and the other of the members includes an intermediate element extending between the prongs, the key being inserted be tween the prongs and the intermediate element.

4. The structure described in claim 1 and in which one of the members is provided with an encircling groove in which the connecting line may be wound.

5. A float marker including a pair of separable members detachably connected together, means adapted for use in connecting one of said members to an article, the other of said members com- Cir prising a buoyant body, a line connecting the two members, means detachably connecting said members together and including, a pair of spaced prong-s projecting from one of said members in substantially parallel relation, and an intermediate prong on the other of said members designed to extend between the spaced prongs, and a key formed of relatively stiff material extending between the intermediate prong and the spaced prongs to hold the parts assembled, said key comprising an element which decreases in rigidity upon being subjected to moisture.

6. The structure described in claim 5 and including resilient means for normally urging said parts into spaced relation.

7. A float marker including a pair of separable members, one of said members being designed for attachment to an article which may be submerged, a loop projecting from one of said members, means projecting from the other of said members and engageable in said loop to hingedly connect said members, a notch in one of said members, a pair of spaced prongs projecting from the other of said members, means on said one of said members extending between said prongs, and a key extending between said prongs and said means between said prongs to hold said two parts from hinging, said key being formed of relatively stiff material which decreases in stiffness when subjected to water' JOHN E. LAWSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date "1,154,522 Lotz Sept. 21, 1915 2,198,755 Berndt Apr. 30, 1940 2,479,098 Cardinal Aug. 16, 1949 

